MISSISSIPPI COUNTY TO CELEBRATE 150 YEARS

EAST PRAIRIE -- Mississippi County residents are retracing their steps through the county's 150-year history during a two-week anniversary celebration.

The county is celebrating its sesquicentennial Sept. 28 through Oct. 8 with the theme, "1845-1995 -- Retracing Our Steps."

"We wanted to show different eras of life and what it's been like to live in Mississippi County for 150 years," said Tammy Carlyle, a member of the planning committee.

The cities of East Prairie and Charleston are holding separate festivals with a similar theme. Residents can celebrate in Charleston Thursday through Sunday and again in East Prairie Oct. 5 through 8.

"We felt it was a milestone for Mississippi County and wanted to commemorate it in some way," Carlyle said.

Charleston will kick off the festivities by cutting a birthday cake for the county Thursday at 6 p.m. on the city hall lawn.

The East Prairie Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the festival in its city and will incorporate some of the school's homecoming activities.

A parade will be held Oct. 6 at 4 p.m. and will be followed by the homecoming queen coronation at 6:30. Both events are sponsored by the East Prairie High School student council.

In addition, students will get lessons on county history from Lawanda Douglas, a former mayor of East Prairie.

The idea for a sesquicentennial came after the city's Fourth of July celebration, Carlyle said.

"We've been really busy but we've had good volunteers," she said of the planning committee members.

As part of the anniversary celebration, there will be a living history day on Saturday in Charleston and again Oct. 7 in East Prairie.

"I think people are excited about the festival," Carlyle said, adding that a similar event at Big Oak Tree State Park earlier this year was canceled because of rain.

Exhibits include Civil War encampments, jewelry making, blacksmith demonstrations, quilting demonstrations and an antique farm equipment display.

All demonstrations and exhibits will be in the downtown business districts.

The East Prairie Chamber of Commerce is also selling souvenir shirts that feature a map of the county's towns and tourist attractions.